This paper summarizes the first consultative meeting of international and U.S. experts in the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). The meeting was held at Columbia University on May 11-12, 2000, under the auspices of the Columbia University Institute for Child and Family Policy. In addition to providing information on international developments in ECEC, a primary objective was to identify possible policy, program, research, and demonstration ideas of relevance to ECEC in the United States that foundations might want to support. The meeting included presentation and discussion of several research papers; these are summarized, and comments on each paper by foundation members and other participants are included. The papers are: (1) "An Overview of ECEC Development in the OECD Countries" (Sheila B. Kamerman); (2) "Workforce Issues in Early Childhood Education and Care" (Peter Moss); (3) "Cross-National Variation in ECEC Service Organization and Financing" (Marcia K. Meyers and Janet C. Gornick); (4) "Hand in Hand: Improving the Links between ECEC and Schools in OECD Countries" (Michelle Neuman); and (5) "Goals and Curricula in Early Childhood" (John Bennett). The paper also includes comments from several people on lessons and opportunities for foundation investments. (EV)